Method of treating fine filamentous thread in package form



May 17, 1932. c. A. Humgan v -1,859,031 E FILAMENTQUS THREAD I N PAGKAGE FORM v METHOD 0F TREATING FIN 'She-ets-Sheet A1 Filed Hay 14;; 1.929

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E FUMMENTOUS THREAD 1N 1 ACKAGE Form Filed may 4'. 1929 s sheevs-sr-1eet 2 METHOD-o1"1 TREATINGIFIN ACK'AGE FORM May 17, 1932*.A` c. A. HUTTINGER METHOD O1 TREATING FINE FILAMENTUS THREAD IN P Filed May 4, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5- Patented .May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. HUTTINGER, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 ACME RAYON CORPORA- TION, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO A METHOD 0F TBEATING FINE FILAMENTOUS THREAD IN PACKAGE FORM appueation mea may 4, 1929. serial no. 360,354.

My invention relates to an improved method in the treatment of fine ilamentous thread in package form by a liquid. Essentially, my improved method consists in treating a package of thread while it is mounted so as to be free to elongate longitudinally a part of the elongation which it tends to make under the treatment and then restraining it from further elongation.

My invention particularly relates to an improved method in the treatment of rayon threads after they have been Wound from the precipitating bath in which the threads are set up. These threads are thus wound into an initial package, spool, cone, etc. The working of the improved methodisillustratedby reference to improved apparatus but claims only to the method are presented in the instant application. The operations to which the thread is subjected are the washing, desulphurizing, bleaching, dyeing, etc., which are necessary before the precipitated and wound product can be considered a nal product ready for the market. The objects of the invention are to effect these operations in an eicient and economical manner While the thread is still in its initial package form, ftlr being wound from the precipitating 'Heretofore, insofar as I am informed, it has been necessary to loosen up the initial package by first skeining it before carrying out some or all of the aforesaid operations. My invention makes it possible to eliminate this loosening step. After treatment by my improved process, the package can be soli in that shape. or form or, if desired, it can be rewound for sale into a shape different from that in which it was initially wound and treated; for instance, it can be rewound from cake to cone form.

For purposes of illustration I shall describe my invention in the following specification, by reference to the accompanying drawings, as applied to a Washing treatment of the thread package, the form of package being a cake By cake I mean a tubular package of thread in the well-known cake form and in a tender state, such as the gel state. In this Washing operat-ion the acids and salts and extraneous matters are washed out of the cake. However, the other operations mentioned are effected by the same process and in the same apparatus, and in fact, all of the operations can be effected in the proper sequence in the same apparatus by a suitable arrangement of liquid-supply'sburces, pipes, valves, drains, etc.

The following description makes clear certain steps constltuting my improved process,

by reference to certain improved apparatusA in which the process may be worked, such steps illustrating, however, but a few of the various series of steps by which the improved process may be carried out.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken front elevation of an improved rack in Which is embodied apparatus exemplifying my improved washing means, and in which the steps of my improved process may be carried out, several cakes mounted for washing treatment being shown therein;

Fivure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, a portion of the view being in vertical section and taken in the plane indicated by the line 2 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view of a portion of the parts shown in Figure 2, this Figure 3 particularly showing certain clamping mechanism in its released position; whereas, this clamping mechanism is shown in Figure -2 in locked position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 4 --4, Figure 2;

.Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section, upon an enlarged scale, through a battery of cakes assembled in washing position in my improved apparatus, the showing in this view illustrating the condition of the cakes before the wash water is turned on, and the section being taken in the plane indicated by the line 5 5, Figure 1;

Figure Gis a horizontal section, taken in ghe pine indicated by the line 6 6, Figure Figure 7 is a section similar to a portion of the parts shown in Figure 5 but illustrating the condition' of the cakes after the wash water has been turned on. and the cakes are subjected to the pressure thereof.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same arts are indicated by the same several num ers in the different views, the frame 1 of a wash rack is provided with a horizontal platform portion 2 upon which are mounted two longitudinal series of bases 3 or foundations for vertical batteries of cakes which are to be washed, one of these series of bases 3, in the form of apparatus illustrated, being arranged along each longitudinal edge of the platform 2. Disposed above each of the bases 3, and in spaced relation through the medium of intermediatelydisposed inclined shell members 6, are a plurality of spacers 4, plainly shown in Figure 5, and upon the top of the to most shell member 6 is positioned a cap mem er 12. The inclination and cross-sectional areaof the outer peripheral surface of the shell member 6 correspond with the bevel and diameter of the inner peripheral face of the usual cake, as plainly shown in Figure 5, one of the cakes surrounding each shell member 6 and between adjacent spacer members 4, or between the latter and the adjacent base member 3 or cap member 12. The spacing of the members 3, 4 and l2 is such that adjacent members are disposed somewhat further apart than the depth of the cake space 8, plainly shown in Figure 5, between the top o the cake 5 and the adjacently upper spacing member, before the wash water is turned on and the cake is subjected to the pressure and washing operation of such water.

The natural tendency of the individual cellulose strands is to become thinner after being wound, even during the washing operation, so that a porousness results which assists in a uniform washing, but the effect of the washing operation upon the whole cake is to induce some longitudinal or axial elongation, but no lateral enlargement.

The wash water is obtained from any suitable source and fed under pressure through -the inlet 9 whence it is conducted through ripheral conduit sections 10 and 11 to the two longitudinal series of cake batteries. For this purpose, the webs of thetbase members 3 are formed with holes 13 therethrough with which connnunicate the pipe sections 16 and 17, which results in the water being forced into the interior of the shell members 6, the walls of the latter being provided with a multiplicity of perforations 7 whereby the water is forced outwardly through the several cakes 5 and drips downwardly from the outer pefaces thereof into the troughs 14 whence it is conducted off through the drains .During such washing operation by the water forced through the perforations 7 and through the body of the cakes 5, the latter 5 so as to provide a slightlswell longitudinally and fill the upper spaces 8 so that the cakes 5 are confined betweenthe upper and lower faces respectively of adjacent spacing members. This permissible swelling of the cakes 5 further provides for an efficient uniform treatment of the same by the wash water. Thus, by the treatment, the cake is permitted first to elongate longitudinally sufficiently to fill the slight space 8 and then is restrained from further elongation, the wash water having during the elongatin'g period a. medium through which to filter consisting in part of the space 8 and in part of the cake body, this filtering medium changing to the cake body only after the elongation of the cake has filled the space 8. Thus, the space 8 somewhat alleviates` during the elongating period, the pressure which, if there was not provided such a space 8, would tend to be built up by the resistance which the cake body offers during such period to the passage of the wash water therethrough. The close confinement of the end faces of the cakes 5 by the engaging portions of the spacers 4 or the base members 3 or thecaps 12 prevents the wash water from passing along the said end faces of the cakes 5 and hence obviates any distortion of the cakes and adds to the uniformity of the treatment. There also is effected a smoothing out of any distortion of the cakes 5 as may have occurred during the previous handling of the cakes.

I will now describe by reference to the accompanying drawings certain mechanism for effecting the clamping of the several vertical batteries of members heretofore described. A clamping head'20 adapted to closely t over the top of the cap member 12 is formed with an upper boss 21 having a vertical recess 22 within which is contained the bottom end of a link 23 which is secured in said recess 22 through the medium of a pin 24 passing through a vertically elongated slot 25 formed in the link 23. Normally the pin 24 is held in its lowermost position in the slot 25 through the medium of a coil spring 26 confined between the top of the clamping member 2O and a pin 27 secured in the link 23, as plainly shown in Figures 4 and 5. The spring 26,

pin 24 and elongated slot 25 furnish shockabsorbing means during the clamping of the head 20 down upon the cap member 21. The clamping member 20 is locked down upon and released from the cap member 12 by manually-operated means that will now be described.

Secured to the upper part of the rack frame 1 is a centrally aligned series of base members 28 of a series of transverse brackets 29 which are symmetrical about their centers so as to serve alike for the oppositely-disposed batteries of cakes 5 upon the two sides of the frame-1. The bracket 29 is formed with outer vertical strap members 30 longitudinally of which the upper ends of the links 23 play, these links being pivotally secured adjacent the members 30 to, and intermediate theends of, operating handles 33 by means of pins 39, said handles 33 being also adapted to make two connections to the verticallydisposed locking levers 34 by means of pins 37. These latter connections are effected by means of a pair of vertically-spaced recesses 35 and 36 formed in the lever 34, whereby the pin 37 secured in the handle 33 can be locked in either of the recesses 35 and 36, as plainly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the recess 35 being used for the released or unclamped position of the clamping member 20, and the recess 36 for the clamped position. Upper and lower end members 40 of the strap member 30 are secured to two diagonally extended legs -31 and 32 of the bracket 29, as plainly shown in Figures 2 and 4, and the top of the locking lever 34 is pivotally secured to the extended end of the upper member 31. The pin 39 plays in an elongated recess 43 formed in the andle member 33 and to this handle member is secured na strap member 38 within which the locking lever 34 has a limited amount of movement. During the up and down movement of' the operating handle 33 to effect the clamping and unclamping operation, the pin 39 plays in a longitudinal vertical recess 41 formed in the strap member 30. The inner ends of the two oppositely disposed operating handles 33 for the corresponding batteries are pivotally mounted upon the same pin 42 securedin the body of the bracket 29.

It is evident from the aforegoing tion that the battery of cakes and spacing members and base members and cap members can be assembled, when the clamping members are in the position shown in Figure 3 and that after being so assembled, the locking lever 34 can be pulled rearwardly within the strap 38 to release the pin 37 from the notch 35 and then the handle 33 pulled down until the pin 37 intersects the notch 36, the locking lever 34 automatically taking such locking position or being forced concurrently and manually into such locking position,

This process r'elates t-o the treatment ofl rayon threads in their initial package form. No special winding of the fibers is necessary other than that which is incident to the winding normally used or in standard practice to obtain the desired form of initial package. These initial packages are then subjected by my improved process, to the' desired purifying and processing treatments, without first skeining or otherwise. reorganizing the fibers into packages of a different nature.

What I claim is:

1. A process of treating a thread of fine filamentous character in package form consisting in subjecting the package to the action of a treating liquid while the package is mounted so as to be freeto elongate longitudinally a part of the elongation which it descriptends to make under the treatment, and then to be restrained from further elongation.

2. A process of treating rayon in package form consisting in subjecting the package to the action of a treating liquid under pressure while the package is mounted so as to be free to elongate longitudinally a part of the elongation which it tends to make under the treatment, and then to be restrained from further elongation. r

3. A process of treating rayon cakes consisting in subjectingthe inner face of the cake to the action of a treating liquid under pressure while the cake is mounted so as to be free to elongate longitudinally a part of the elongation which it tends to make under the treatment, and then to'bc restrained from further elongation.

4. A process of treating viscose rayon cakes of fine filamentous thread consisting in subjecting the inner face of the cake in a gel state to the action of a treating liquid under prossure while the cake is mounted so as to be rfree to elongate longitudinally a small part of the elongation which it tends to make under the treatment, and then to be restrained from further elongation.

5. A process of treating a thread of fine filamentous character in tubular package form consisting in subjecting the inner face of the package in the gel state to the action of a treating liquid under pressure While the package is mounted so as to be free to clongate longitudinally a part of thc elongation which it tends to make under the treatment, and then to be restrained from further elongation.

6. A lnentous character in tubular package form consisting in subjecting package 1n a tender state to the action of a treating liquid under pressure, while providing, exteriorly of the package and during the early stages only of the treating operation,

means affording alleviation to the pressure which tends to be built up by the resistance ofi'ered by the ackage to the passage of the treating liqui therethrough.

Signed by me this 4th day of April` 1929 CHARLES A. HUTTlNGER.

the inner face of the treatment of a thread of fine fila- 

